Magnetic pressure jacket for fluid injector

Abstract

A fluid injector for use with at least one syringe has at least one injector head with a front end configured to releasably receive the at least one syringe. The fluid injector further includes at least one pressure jacket releasably associated with the front end of the at least one injector head for securing the at least one syringe during an injection procedure. A connection mechanism releasably connects the at least one pressure jacket to the front end of the at least one injector head. The connection mechanism includes at least one magnet. The at least one injector head has the at least one magnet while the at least one pressure jacket has a ferromagnetic material configured for magnetically interacting with the at least one magnet.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fluid injector for use with at least one syringe, the fluid injector comprising:
 at least one injector head having a front end configured to releasably receive the at least one syringe; 
 at least one pressure jacket releasably associated with the front end of the at least one injector head for securing the at least one syringe during an injection procedure; and 
 a connection mechanism for releasably connecting the at least one pressure jacket to the front end of the at least one injector head, 
 wherein the connection mechanism comprises at least one magnet, and 
 wherein the at least one injector head comprises the at least one magnet and wherein the at least one pressure jacket comprises a ferromagnetic material configured for magnetically interacting with the at least one magnet. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic material is formed on a terminal surface of the at least one pressure jacket that engages the front end of the at least one injector head. 
     
     
       3. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets arranged in a shape corresponding to a terminal surface of the at least one pressure jacket. 
     
     
       4. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is received within a pocket formed on the front end of the at least one injector head. 
     
     
       5. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one arm pivotally connected at a proximal end to the at least one injector head for retaining a distal end of the at least one pressure jacket, wherein the at least one arm is pivotable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
       6. The fluid injector of  claim 5 , further comprising a holding bracket pivotally connected to a distal end of the at least one arm for engaging the distal end of the at least one pressure jacket, wherein the holding bracket is pivotable between a first holding bracket position and a second holding bracket position. 
     
     
       7. The fluid injector of  claim 6 , wherein the holding bracket is magnetically retained in the first holding bracket position. 
     
     
       8. The fluid injector of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one arm is magnetically retained in the first position. 
     
     
       9. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is at least one permanent magnet. 
     
     
       10. The fluid injector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is at least one electromagnet. 
     
     
       11. A pressure jacket for use with a fluid injector, the pressure jacket comprising:
 a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a syringe receiving opening at the proximal end or the distal end configured for receiving a syringe within an interior of the tubular body; 
 a connection portion with a terminal surface at the proximal end configured for releasably connecting the pressure jacket to the fluid injector; and 
 at least one connection element on at least a portion of the connection portion, 
 wherein the at least one connection element comprises at least one ferromagnetic element configured to magnetically interact with the fluid injector for releasably connecting the pressure jacket to the fluid injector. 
 
     
     
       12. The pressure jacket of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ferromagnetic element is at least one magnet. 
     
     
       13. The pressure jacket of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one connection element is ring-shaped. 
     
     
       14. A fluid injector for use with at least one syringe, the fluid injector comprising:
 at least one injector head having a front end configured to releasably receive the at least one syringe; 
 at least one pressure jacket releasably associated with the front end of the at least one injector head for securing the at least one syringe during an injection procedure; 
 at least one arm pivotally connected at a proximal end to the at least one injector head for retaining a distal end of the at least one pressure jacket, the at least one arm being pivotable between a first position and a second position; 
 a holding bracket pivotally connected to a distal end of the at least one arm for engaging the distal end of the at least one pressure jacket; and 
 a connection mechanism for at least one of releasably connecting the at least one pressure jacket to the front end of the at least one injector head and retaining the at least one arm in the first position, 
 wherein the connection mechanism comprises at least one magnet, 
 wherein the holding bracket is pivotable between a first holding bracket position and a second holding bracket position, and 
 wherein the holding bracket is magnetically retained in the first holding bracket position.